Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Homour, Maus Hábitos, Porto, 12.03.2026.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Paulo Carmona

words: Paulo Carmona (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro)
photos: Paulo Carmona

For those who, like myself, enjoy live music, I have this question: Is there anything more pleasurable than going to see a concert by a band you know little or almost nothing about and being surprised by a bomb of energy, good vibes, interaction, commitment, and high-quality musical competence? I guess not!

The Scots Humour are what you call: A hell of a band!

They come on stage with the nonchalance of a bunch of kids and leave it with the mojo of first-rate rockers who have accomplished their mission with distinction.

The room was far from full, perhaps half capacity. Fortunate were those who left their homes on a Thursday night and headed to Maus Hábitos in Porto to welcome them.

Humour’s post-punk is contagious and electrifying. Powerful guitars, a well-marked and sustained bass, cohesive and distinctive drums, and a delirious voice. And up to this point, everything is within what one might expect from a band operating in this field.

The difference lies in the composition, the dynamics, the truth of the lyrics and the performance. Everything very well achieved and finely honed.

The agony of the riffs in the verses gives way to warm, soothing melodies in the choruses, in a kind of emotional roller coaster. This can be heard in almost every song, from Neighbours, with which they opened, through Memorial and Dirty Bread, to Plagiarist, with which they closed the concert.

The name of this band could not be more fitting. The band’s kindness and friendliness win over the audience.

In conversation with the band’s good-humoured frontman – Andreas Christodoulidis – I asked him what drives them in this world of songs. His answer was unequivocal: “We want to give the audience good songs, full of energy, good lyrics, and with that get some good feelings going. That’s what we’re here for.” If that was their intention, they achieved it even better than they imagined, because that was exactly what I witnessed.

We’ll be hearing a lot about them! 🎶

Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

The Youth Play, Mouco, Porto, 30.01. 2026.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota

words: Paulo Carmona (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro)photos: Telma Mota

So Young, So Young … The Youth Play take to the stage to enjoy themselves, and that sense of enjoyment comes through in every song.

They walked on stage with an introverted, introspective air, but the mood shifted quickly.

The frenetic cadence of their alternative rock ’n’ roll -characteristic of post-punk bands operating within this sonic register – takes effect almost immediately. This British band further embellishes its sound with flashes of abrasive shoegaze.

Diego Bracho, on vocals and guitar, smiling and self-assured, delivers chords in a tightly sequenced rhythm, supported by vocal lines rich in upper-mid tones and firmly grounded low registers. He combines ethereal, looping vocals with layers of distorted guitar.

He communicates effortlessly with the audience and remains constantly in motion. He did not hesitate to leave the stage and merge with the crowd at Mouco. The desired effect was achieved, as bodies responded in kind.

Harrison Ballard, on lead guitar, makes it scream in sharp, piercing melodies, while Alex Hanrahan on bass blends syncopated rhythms with solid, dependable structures whenever weight is required. Finley Bruce is the band’s driving force. With a dense, low-end drum sound, he imposes exactly what is needed for The Youth Play’s sound to be what it wants to be.

They opened with Castle, May Be This Was All For Us and Wild Flowers, moved through On Fire and After a Moment, and closed with Cowboy, A Fair Life, Sunday and If We Just Ever Were.
A blend of older material alongside newer songs from Someday, Forever, their 2025 album.

After the concert, the band stayed on to spend time more closely with enthusiastic fans in an adjacent space. A genuinely generous gesture from the members of The Youth Play. It is rare to see, but it should happen far more often.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota